MP urged to quit role over alleged gay slur
THE deputy leader of Welsh Labour is facing calls to quit her frontbench Westminster role as shadow equalities minister after becoming embroiled in a row over an alleged homophobic slur.
Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris, pictured left, was accused during a Crown Court trial of “outing” as gay her former constituency office manager Jenny Lee Clarke. Ms Clarke accused Mrs Harris of referring to her “dyke boots” when they worked together for former Swansea East MP Sian James. The MP told jurors at Cardiff Crown Court that she could not remember using the phrase but said if she had it would have been “banter”.
She has now apologised.
Ms Clarke, 42, was cleared of two charges of fraud and forgery by the jury earlier this week.
Assembly Member Jenny Rathbone said Mrs Harris should stand down as shadow equalities minister “to clear her name”.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and First Minister Carwyn Jones are both understood to have “confidence” in her.
SWANSEA East MP and deputy leader of Welsh Labour Carolyn Harris is facing calls to quit as a shadow equalities minister in the wake of her alleged use of the word “dyke”.
Cardiff Central Labour AM Jenny Rathbone has called on her to stand down “to clear her name” and Jon Lansman, the chairman of the influential pro-Corbyn group Momentum, said he did not believe she could “continue as a frontbench spokesperson on equalities”.
Criticism has also come from Delyn Labour AM Hannah Blythyn who said she was “disappointed and saddened”. Caerphilly Labour AM Hefin David said it was “incredibly disappointing”.
However, a senior UK Labour source said Jeremy Corbyn had confidence in Mrs Harris continuing as shadow equalities minister and deputy Welsh leader. First Minister Carwyn Jones is understood to have “full confidence” in her.
Mrs Harris has apologised for her “clumsy language” after a former aide claimed in court she was a homophobic bully .
The allegation was made by Mrs Harris’s former office manager and senior aide, Jenny Lee Clarke, in Cardiff Crown Court on July 30.
Miss Clarke was on trial for fraudulently submitting a form increasing her annual pay from £37,000 to £39,000 and decreasing her weekly hours from 40 to 37.5 in August 2014, but she was found not guilty by a jury earlier this week.
Mrs Harris had told the court that if she had referred to a colleague’s footwear as “dyke boots”, it would have been “office banter”.
In a public statement, Mrs Harris said: “I honestly do not remember making such a comment – and hearing it alleged in court struck me to the core. “In looking to answer – honestly – I said that in the context of our time working together that if I did, it would have been banter. “I was trying to express that I would not want anyone to feel as if I were targeting them because of their sexuality, something I would never do. “But I failed, with clumsy language that only served to make it appear as if I was trying to minimise the issue.”
Whilst giving evidence, Miss Clarke spoke about her alleged treatment at the hands of Ms Harris and said: “She was a homophobic bully all the time and she assaulted me at my work station.”
The court also heard evidence that Mrs Harris pulled Miss Clarke’s hair so hard that clumps came out.
Following the not guilty verdict, Ms Clarke said “I am just elated, words cannot describe...”
Mrs Harris also issued a statement following the trial, saying: “I understand that banter was an entirely inappropriate – indeed offensive – word to use.
“It is a word that many LGBT people have heard used to justify homophobic abuse for too long. And I apologise – unreservedly and unequivocally – for my use of it.
“I try to be a good ally and use my platform to highlight the experiences of LGBT people. If I have fallen short, in my understanding or in my words, I can only hope that my actions to support the LGBT community in recent years as an MP and in the future will help heal any hurt.”
However, Momentum chairman and Labour National Executive Committee member Jon Lansman told the BBC that Ms Harris “needs to be removed from her current role as equalities spokesperson” and there “must be in my view an immediate investigation of the alleged assault by the Labour Party”.
He said he had raised the allegations with Labour’s chief whip in March and with Mr Corbyn’s office last year.
Cardiff Central’s Ms Rathbone said there was “clearly a question mark as to whether it is appropriate for Mrs Harris to continue” as shadow equalities minister. Referring to Mrs Harris’ success in this year’s deputy leadership election, she said “had all these issues been known about before the election I think it would have affected the num ber of people who put in their votes for Mrs Harris”.
Ms Blythyn said: “It’s never banter – it’s homophobic language. It’s not appropriate. It’s not ok.”
Ms Blythyn was backed by Newport Labour council leader Debbie Wilcox, who also objected to the description of the alleged remarks as “banter”. Mid and West Wales Labour AM Joyce Watson said she “absolutely” agreed with Ms Blythyn.
However, support for Ms Harris came from Counsel General and Neath Labour MP Jeremy Miles. He said he had found Ms Harris to be a “good LGBT ally”.
Gwent police and crime commissioner and former Caerphilly Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert also defended the MP, saying: “Carolyn Harris is an excellent campaigner and a first rate shadow minister for equalities and Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour. People must not use the current difficulty, regrettable though it is, to reopen the deputy leadership election.”
A spokesperson for Carwyn Jones, Welsh Labour Leader, said: “Language matters – and language that offends, upsets or marginalises has no place in Welsh Labour.
“Carwyn spoke to Carolyn today, and said her unreserved apology was absolutely the right thing to do”.